1990 Pontiac Grand Am Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1427.5%
- Transmission611.8%
- Body & structure59.8%
- Brakes35.9%
- Electrical35.9%
- Seat belts35.9%
- Tires & wheels35.9%
- Steering35.9%
- Other / unspecified23.9%
- Driver assistance23.9%
- Interior & seats23.9%
- Powertrain (other)12.0%
- Suspension12.0%
- Fuel system12.0%
- Heating & air conditioning12.0%
- Visibility12.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, ENGINE, BUMPER, AND WHEELS. *CB
VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE WHILE LEAVING DEALERSHIP, AND BEGAN SMOKING.*AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID CAUSES STALLING. CAN STALL IN INTERSECTION CAUSING ACCIDENT AND FATALITIES POOR GM DESIGN, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE JUNK THEY BUILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TRANSMISSION CONVERTER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, ENGINE, BUMPER, AND WHEELS. *CB
CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.*JB
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRY TO STOP THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP. IT TAKES A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED MANY TIMES, AND YET THIS KEEPS OCCURRING. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING WITH OUR OTHER CAR, SO IT IS NOT BAD BRAKING HABITS. I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTERM AND IT IS SCARY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH FAILED.*SD
AUTO-TRAN: TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN HIGH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING; ENGINE DIES; SPEED 35 TO 45 MPH; LOSS VEHICLE POWER. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WEBBING OF DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS FRAYING APART. THE WEBBING OF FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF WEBBING APART. *AK
VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE, DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.*JB
4 TIRES PURCHASED AT SAM'S WHOLESALE CLUB ALL DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BUBBLES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BHKATT 114 TIRESIZE: P195/75R14)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING RACK WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL HAS CORRODED, CAUSING THE BOLTS TO BECOME LOOSE AND FALL OFF WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHLE DRIVING AND AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT PROPERLY RESPOND TO STRAIGHTEN FROM THE TURN, THERE WAS APPROX 90 DEGREES OF SLACK. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BRACKET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD SEPARATED. THE FIREWALL HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE BRACKET TO PULL OUT WITH THE FIREWALL STILL ATTACHED. MANUFACTURER OF NO HELP. *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, ENGINE, BUMPER, AND WHEELS. *CB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE RIMS ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO THE FIRS ONE BROKE WICH WAS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND NOW THERE IS A SECOND ONE WAS THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON A RECALL BACK ON 1995 BUT HERS WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. MR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 10 TO 20 MPH WAS TRYING TO SLOWDOWN, BUT VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. CONSUMER NEVER KNOWS WHEN CAR MAY HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. PONTIAC CANNOT HELP UNTIL THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF RESTARTED VEHICLE CAR SURGES FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS IS THE SEVENTH INCIDENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN ACCIDENT WHEN REAR ENDED DRIVERS SIDE SEAT LATCH FAILED THRUSTING DRIVER FORWARD AND SEAT LAY FLAT NOW.THE SEAT BACK IS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. TT
REAR WINDOW MOLDINGS HAVE CRACKED TWICE DUE TO PLASTIC NOT BEING STRONG ENOUGH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE STRUT TOWER ON THE PASSENGER WHEEL WALL HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING NOISE, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE RUSTING, SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT'S NOT NORMAL . *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE STRUT TOWER ON THE PASSENGER WHEEL WALL HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING NOISE, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE RUSTING, SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT'S NOT NORMAL . *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL TANK, PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN THE INSIDE AND SPLIT THE TANK, CAUSING A LEAK AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRY TO STOP THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP. IT TAKES A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED MANY TIMES, AND YET THIS KEEPS OCCURRING. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING WITH OUR OTHER CAR, SO IT IS NOT BAD BRAKING HABITS. I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTERM AND IT IS SCARY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WINDOW MOLDINGS HAVE CRACKED TWICE DUE TO PLASTIC NOT BEING STRONG ENOUGH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .